No.71 Partial Return of Tama Service Subsidy Facility

On August 31, 2017, a portion of the Tama Service Auxiliary Facility was returned.
The land that was returned this time has been designated for joint use based on the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, and the details are as follows.

1. Omaru 1966-2, Inagi City, approximately 4,200 square meters (used as a parking lot since October 1995 as part of Omaru Park)
2. Omaru 1962-1 and others, approximately 4,700 square meters (used as a walking path south of the City Hospital since July 2006 as Omaru Nature Park)

The city has requested the return of the entire Tama Service Auxiliary Facility through the Minami-Tama New Town Council (composed of Hachioji City, Machida City, Hino City, Tama City, and Inagi City) until now.
However, the annual responses have indicated that a full return at this time is difficult, so we have proposed the promotion of joint use as a temporary measure leading to that.
This return has been realized at the request of the American side, but it is believed to be partially achieved due to the results of the long-standing requests made until now.
However, since these lands were acquired by the military from the original landowners through purchase, even if they are returned, they will not come back to Inagi City. They will become national land managed by the Ministry of Finance, but for the time being, they can be used as they are. Until now, we have been using them with permission for joint use from the U.S. military, but in the future, we will consult with the Ministry of Finance to ensure that they can continue to be used for their traditional purposes.
By the way, the Tama Service Auxiliary Facility, which is currently under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Yokota Air Base, was originally the former Army Arsenal Tama Powder Factory. The author Jiro Asada wrote the novel "THE LEGACY OF THE SUN" based on this facility, which was adapted into a film in 2011. As part of the 40th anniversary of the city's establishment, the city held a preview of "THE LEGACY OF THE SUN" and a lecture by the original author Jiro Asada at the i Plaza in Wakabadai in August of that year.
The city of Musashikodama, which is the setting for this work, is modeled after Inagi City, and the Army Tama Arsenal is now the Tama Service Auxiliary Facility. Therefore, there are opinions suggesting that this return could be an opportunity to develop it into a memorial park for "THE LEGACY OF THE SUN." However, the area being returned this time is a small area south of the City Hospital, and the former ammunition depot that served as the setting for this novel is located much further to the west, so it is considered difficult to realize this with the current return.
The city will continue to seek the return of the main Tama Service Auxiliary Facility and, until that is realized, will request further promotion of joint use and initiatives to promote visits to war relics, including the former ammunition depot.